Use of microgravity simulators for plant biological studies

16 p.-4 fig.-2 tab.Simulated microgravity and partial gravity research on Earth is highly convenient for every space biology researcher due to limitations of access to spacefl ight. However, the use of ground-based facilities for microgravity simulation is far from simple. Microgravity simulation usually results in the need to consider additional environmental parameters which appear as secondary effects in the generation of altered gravity. These secondary effects may interfere with gravity alteration in the changes observed in the biological processes under study. Furthermore, ground-based facilities are also capable of generating hypergravity or fractional gravity conditions, which are worth being tested and compared with the results of microgravity exposure. Multiple technologies (2D clinorotation, random positioning machines, magnetic levitators or centrifuges), experimental hardware (proper use of containers and substrates for the seedlings or cell cultures), and experimental requirements (some life support/environmental parameters are more diffi cult to provide in certain facilities) should be collectively considered in defi ning the optimal experimental design that will allow us to anticipate, modify, or redefi ne the fi ndings provided by the scarce spacefl ight opportunities that have been (and will be) available.Most of the results and comments included in this book chapter have been the consequence of the authors’ participation in “ESA Access to GBF” Project Nos. 4200022650 and 4000105761 in close collaboration with GBF managers Dr. van Loon (DESC), Dr. Hemmersbach(DLR), Dr. Pereda-Loth (Toulouse University), Dr. Hill (Nottingham University), and Dr. Christianen (Nijmegen University). Work performed in the authors’ laboratory was financially supported by the Spanish Plan Nacional de Investigación Científica y Desarrollo Tecnológico, Grant Ref. No. AYA2012-33982.Peer reviewe